The avocado (Persea americana) is a fleshy  fruit of the berry family from the tropical and subtropical regions of Central America, with a great capacity to adapt to Mediterranean regions. 

It must be taken into account that depending on the time of the season when we receive the order, the avocados may arrive more or less ripe. For example, if we are at the beginning of the Hass avocado season (December-January), they can take up to 15 days to reach their optimum point of consumption. However, if we receive the same variety in March or April, we can probably consume some the same day we receive the order. 

Here is the organic avocado “baticate” recipe to use your organic avocados for a smoothie!

How do I know if the avocado is ready to eat?

As a climacteric fruit, it continues to ripen after being harvested, which means that your avocados might arrive at your house a little green or hard, which means that they were hanging on the tree only a few days ago! It depends on the variety, But unlike the bright green of unripe avocadoes, if the skin is slightly dark and gives way when gently pressed, it may indicate that it is ready to eat. Another trick is to carefully remove the small stem at the top of theto ripen. If the area underneath is green and easily removed, the avocado is ready to eat. If it is brown, the avocado is probably overripe. If the stem does not remove easily, the avocado is not yet ready to eat.

How to ripen green avocados faster at home? 

• Keep it in the box with the rest of the avocados or store it in a paper bag at room temperature. 
• You can also put it next to other climacteric fruits such as bananas or apples to accelerate their ripening process thanks to the ethylene they release.
  
  

How to preserve and store an avocado at home?

Keep it in a cool and dry environment. It is not necessary to keep them in the fridge. It is important to consider that tropical fruits, such as avocados, are more sensitive to cold. Exposing them to very low temperatures for a long period of time can compromise their structure and flavour.

How can you make the most of a ripe avocado at home?

You have many options to keep enjoying your avocados! 

• a) Avocado spread
• b) Guacamole
• c) Smoothies or milkshakes
• d) Facial or hair mask
• e) Avocado cream sauce
  
  

What if my avocado is mouldy or damaged? 

If your fruit has arrived overripe or in poor condition, please contact our customer service team or report the issue to us via your private area in your CrowdFarming user account. By clicking on “report a problem” and submitting a complaint, we will be able to notify the farmer and work with them to find a solution.

If you want to know how to preserve and ripen other fruits, click here.